A Revelation Invitation

“‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Revelation 2:7a,11a,17a,29; 3:6,13,22 ESV)

The stretch of river where we launched our canoe was not dangerous, but it was fast flowing. Just beyond the launch site stood a small island. The driver who dropped us off warned us to paddle to the left of the island. Following his advice we passed the island and survived the rapids without incident. A few years later I repeated this trip. However, this driver didn’t warn us to stay to the left of the island. Having forgotten the advice given on my previous trip, we paddled to the right of the island. The passage narrowed, the current quickened, we became entangled in the underbrush along the bank, and we capsized our canoe. The water wasn’t deep, but we did lose a piece of equipment. It was then that I recalled the advice given years earlier. We should have steered to the left. What a difference it would have made.

It’s tempting to treat Scripture as advice. If we follow it, our lives should flow smoothly. If we don’t, we will be entangled in and brought down by the problems of the world. However, treating Scripture as advice is seriously misguided. When Jesus admonishes, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” he is not making a suggestion. With advice we are free to follow it or reject it. The Spirit’s words are much more consequential because he lays out the paths to life and death.

When Jesus told the church in Pergamum that they were reading “the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword” (2:12 ESV), it was incumbent on them to realize that Jesus was ready to take severe action against the church if they did not remove the false teachers from among them. If they didn’t see Jesus for who he was, they would be ruined.

When Jesus acknowledged to the church in Thyatira,“I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first” (2:19 ESV), he was encouraging the church to continue on their present path. To survive as his church they needed to persevere on that course and not be drawn away by the misguiding of a few.

When Jesus warned the church in Sardis, “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God” (3:2 ESV), he was conveying that their condition was precarious. They must repent or else lose the gift he had given them.

When Jesus explained to the church in Laodicea, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (3:19 ESV), he meant to give context to the harsh criticism he had aimed at them. He was upset with them for their complacency. But by speaking this truth in love, he hoped to save them by treating them as a loving master.

Seven letters. Seven times Jesus admonishes, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The Spirit was not offering advice. These churches faced threats from within and threats from without. Every word in these letters (and in Revelation as a whole) was vital to their well-being, to their faith and perseverance, to empowering them to conquer. We must also listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. We too need to be convicted by his admonishments. We must also be watchful of his warnings. We too ought to act on his directives. It is incumbent on each of us to weigh these words carefully. We must take his words for what they are—the counsel of the Holy Spirit. To ignore them will bring disastrous consequences. To heed them will be glorious.

Spirit of God, open my ears to your message that I may live as I should. Open my eyes to your presence and involvement in the church that I may discern the good from the evil. Open my heart to repentance that I may surrender my will to yours in all things. Plant your promises deep within me so that I may joyously persevere through all tribulations. Amen.